April 4th, 2008

Break Of Dawn

(The end of Impromptu Michael Jackson Week – five posts equals one blog week, as we all know.)

When I leave for work in the morning, it’s generally still dark. As summer goes on, it gets light before I’m out the door, so either way I miss the sunrise. There’s something about the beginning of the day, whether it’s cold and grey or warm and sunny or raining, it’s a beautiful time and I’m sorry I don’t see more of them.

I love this song by Cat Stevens, “Morning Has Broken” I actually fell in love with it hearing Ellen Greene sing it on “Pushing Daisies,” but his is the original version (you can hear it here). Here are the lyrics:

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day

I love the pictures the song paints, and I don’t really have much else to add to it.

5 Comments on “Break Of Dawn”

  1. Lorelei says:

    Isn't this song in your church hymnal? It was in our Methodist books and also in the Episcopal books. In fact, we just sang it during lent! I always like singing this one in church because it is one of about 20 hymns that I know in its entirety!

    It was written in 1922 by Eleanor Farjeon. I love the Cat Stevens version…or it is Youssef Islam….or would that be "the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens???" So confusing.

    I too, was captivated by Ellen Greene's version on Pushing Daisies. Wasn't that just the best? She's just wonderful.

  2. Meags says:

    Typo alert:

    "weather it's cold and grey or warm and sunny or raining" I think you meant whether. Or maybe you did that on purpose!

  3. The Bon says:

    Back when I still went to church, Morning has Broken was definitely my favorite hymn. I still love the song, although in a different way now.

  4. daniel says:

    PLEASE don't get me wrong. I love Cat Stevens' version of the song. I love the intent and meaning behind it. I just had this pop into my head while reading the lyrics.

    Morning has broken, looks like we need duct tape
    The foreman has spoken, it is what to get
    Praise for the sticky, binds all that is agape
    This job may be tricky, but we’ll dot it I bet

    When something needs mending, there’s one sure fire tool
    A hand it is lending, to make work complete
    Tasks get done easily, you won’t look like a fool
    The substance not measly, duct tape is a real treat

    This fix all is pleasing, the measure of a real man
    While some may be teasing, we know it true worth
    And so we are grateful, for all that you can
    For duct tape we’re thankful, it fills us with mirth

  5. MadMup says:

    That was hilarious :)

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